Review: ‘Outside Love’

"Outside Love" asks important questions about the power of love and the importance of overcoming inbred prejudices.

A moving love story about a seemingly impossible relationship between a Jewish man and a Muslim woman, “Outside Love” asks important questions about the power of love and the importance of overcoming inbred prejudices. Helmed by young director Daniel Espinosa (“The Babylon Disease”), the pic steers away from the usual cliches and creates a vivid, realistic portrait of Copenhagen’s suburbs unseen on film before. Shot on Super-16, “Love” got good reviews when released in Denmark in May, but dismal B.O.

Lead actor David Dencik — brother of scripter Daniel and lead actor in “A Soap” — is convincing as Shmuli, who works as a security guard at a Danish school for Jewish schoolkids. He’s a single father to young Taylor (Jacob Ottensten), and the pair live with Shmuli’s parents (Karen-Lise Mynster, Dick Kayso), who despise Muslims. Shmuli’s dream is to move to New York, but fate intervenes when he meets Amina (newcomer Louise Hart, excellent), a Pakistani girl who works at a convenience store. Relationship meets a lot of obstacles, including Muslim gangs, a self-proclaimed Jewish defense force and, not least, Shmuli’s own parents.

Outside Love

Denmark

Production

An All Right Film release of a Thura Film production, in association with Danmarks Radio. (International sales: Nordisk, Copenhagen.) Produced by Michael Obel. Directed by Daniel Espinosa. Screenplay, Daniel Dencik.